Walz Protects Boundary Waters
Governor Walz halts new nonferrous mining permits and leases, shielding Boundary Waters Wilderness
Key Points
Walz has a personal connection to the Boundary Waters: the governor notes that the sanctity of the area is meaningful to him because his brother died there on a 2016 camping trip.
The order targets Twin Metals, a subsidiary of Antofagasta, with mining proposals near Ely and Babbitt—roughly a dozen miles from the Boundary Waters—highlighting specific local opposition to the project.
Prior to the order, the Minnesota DNR had approved mineral-exploration activity by a Twin Metals subsidiary on Birch Lake for two years, indicating active engagement with the area before the shutdown order.
Mining interests, including Twin Metals and its parent company, have signaled potential litigation in response to the administration’s action, underscoring anticipated legal pushback to the executive order.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signed an executive order blocking nonferrous mining near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, directing state agencies to halt all new permits and environmental reviews in the Rainy River Headwaters Watershed. The move comes after Congress voted to overturn a 20-year federal shield that had kept copper and nickel mining proposals out of the area, according to Audacy.
Walz called the Boundary Waters "a national treasure." The order also bars new state mining leases and requires a review of existing ones. The region supports a $1 billion outdoor recreation economy, KSTP reported.
What the Executive Order Actually Does
The order tells the Minnesota DNR and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to stop issuing new permits for nonferrous mining — that means metals like copper and nickel — in the watershed. The DNR must also stop acting as a cooperating agency in any federal environmental reviews, according to KAAL TV.
The DNR will also draft permanent language to ban nonferrous mining in the watershed for good. All existing state mineral leases face an immediate review to make sure they do not threaten the long-term health of the lakes and rivers, Mesabi Tribune reported.
Twin Metals Project at the Center of the Fight
The order takes direct aim at Twin Metals, a subsidiary of Chilean mining giant Antofagasta. Twin Metals has proposed copper and nickel mines near Ely and Babbitt — roughly a dozen miles from the Boundary Waters, according to Northern News Now.
Before the order, the Minnesota DNR had already approved mineral exploration by a Twin Metals subsidiary on Birch Lake for two years. That approval showed the project was actively moving forward before Walz stepped in to shut it down, Mesabi Tribune noted.
A Personal Loss Behind the Policy
Walz's push to protect the Boundary Waters is not just political. The governor said the area holds deep personal meaning for him. His brother died there during a camping trip in 2016, according to KSTP. That loss shapes how he talks about why the wilderness deserves protection.
Environmental advocates praised the order as a strong step to guard the wildlands. The Boundary Waters draws visitors from across the country and anchors an outdoor recreation economy worth $1 billion to the region, KAAL TV reported.
Mining Industry Warns of Lawsuits Ahead
Twin Metals and its parent company Antofagasta have signaled they may sue over the executive order. Mining interests argue the move will hurt the local economy and kill jobs in a region that has relied on mining for generations, according to Audacy.
The legal fight could be long. The order sets up a direct clash between state environmental powers and federal mining rights — especially now that Congress has removed the 20-year federal mining ban. Northern News Now reported that both sides are preparing for a prolonged battle.
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